HCI SADD chapter was out in the cold to make sure no one drinks and drives this season.
Five SADD chapter students, Cst. Marc Thibodeau from the Humboldt RCMP, and teachers Jamie White and Stacy Jackson all braved the cold on Dec. 8 for the Red Ribbon Campaign, making sure that their message got out to drivers at their check stop.
Between 75-90 vehicles stopped in, in front of the Conexus building on Main Street and the kids had lots of fun giving out coffee and candy canes to motorists, says Jackson.
“We really want to thank Cst. Marc Thibodeau for helping us and thanks to everyone who stopped at the check stop to get our message.”
HCI SADD President Jade Nemeth says this was one of their better years for the campaign.
“There was lots of nice people who stopped by. No one dodged us like they usually do.”
Especially during this time of year, it is always important to have a designated driver and have a safe ride home.
The holidays is about celebrating and drinking is involved. This campaign was just a reminder to be safe, says Nemeth.
“It’s just a friendly reminder to remind people to stay safe. You don’t want anyone to get in an accident over the holidays.”
Thibodeau made sure to keep everyone safe during check stop, especially when it came to the cold.
None of the students complained either about the cold or being out there doing the campaign, he says, which was fantastic.
The Saskatchewan RCMP also reminded drivers to find a safe ride home with their #24Storiesin24hours campaign on social media.
Officers shared stories about their experience with people who drink and drive.
Considering the holiday season is a more social time, the statistics on drinking and driving are rather terrifying.
In December, 2015 the Saskatchewan RCMP charged 210 people for impaired driving offences, which amounts to almost seven per day.
Each day between the hours of 3pm and 3am, the RCMP averaged over one driving complaint call per hour. And the Saskatchewan RCMP members responded to 8 fatal collisions in December 2015 with half being alcohol related.
Thibodeau says he is always surprised at the frequency of drinking and driving since people are not getting the message.
“They say that drinking and driving is the leading cause of death that is preventable. It doesn’t take much to change that,” says Thibodeau.
